Elizabeth Diane Heaton Maness

Elizabeth Diane Heaton Maness, age 77, left her earthly body on Saturday morning, September 16, 2023, in her home. She was born on August 12, 1946, in New Albany, Mississippi to her loving parents, Bill and Hattie Lula Heaton. Throughout her childhood and following her father's passing, Diane and her mother lived close to her maternal grandmother whom she called "Mama". Into her adult years she enjoyed special relationships with her mother's sisters, Jewel Kitchens and Kittie Mae Childers.
Diane attended Northeast Junior College, Mississippi State and Ole Miss. She started her Master's at Ole Miss and finished at Memphis State after marrying her husband, Gary Maness. She met him on a blind date set up by her cousin, Sherry, on May 13, 1972, at the Cotton Carnival. Sherry had arranged two previous blind dates for Gary, and Diane was the third. Third time's the charm! The couple did not waste time with a long courtship and were married on July 30, 1972. Diane worked as a school teacher and librarian. She held her teacher's license in Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and New York. Gary's engineering career with NASA and plant manager career over the water bottling division of Anheuser-Busch moved the couple to many locations: Houston, TX; Sarasota Springs, NY; and St. Louis, MO. The couple moved back to Gary's family home in Ripley, TN following his retirement. They were members of the First Baptist Church of Ripley. Diane made friends quickly everywhere they lived through joining Newcomers' Clubs, Book Clubs, Bible studies, DAR, Art Clubs and her volunteer work. She was a lover of nature, talented artist, photographer and painter. Her love of nature made its expression in her paintings, gardening and photographs. She took delight in small pleasures, such as observing the life cycle of butterflies, birdwatching, flowers, Hallmark movies and sweets (her favorite being caramel cake). She was a faithful caregiver for her mother and Aunt Kittie until they passed, and her husband during his lengthy battle with multiple myeloma. In 2017 after her husband's death, Diane moved to Fuquay-Varina, NC to be close to her cousins and live at Windsor Point.
Diane was preceded in death by her husband, Gary Maness of Ripley, TN and her parents, Bill and Hattie Lula Heaton, both of New Albany, MS. She is survived by her cousin, Tom Tate (Marilyn) of Fuquay-Varina, NC and their children: Josh Tate (Arlene) of Fuquay-Varina, NC, Andrew Tate (Brooke) of Raleigh, NC, Sara Tate Merrill (Robert) of Wichita, KS, and Nicolas Tate (Hannah) of Youngsville, NC and their children; her cousin, Robert Tate of Mechanicsville, VA and his children: Holly Tate Collins (Matt) of Mechanicsville, VA, Anna Tate Mann (Taylor) of Mechanicsville, VA, and Matthew Tate of Ashland, VA and their children. Diane especially enjoyed a close relationship with Sara and her daughter, Cora. The family would like to express special gratitude to Diane's caregivers at Comfort Keepers, Patricia and Dorothy.
A private family burial service will take place at Old Glenfield Cemetery in New Albany, Mississippi on Saturday, September 23, 2023. In lieu of flowers, plant some milkweed for the monarch butterflies. Memorials may be sent to Gideon's International.